Ashton Kutcher -- often written off by the ignorant as an amiable dunce, the guy is very smart and has been good in every movie he's been in.

Ashton Kutcher -- often written off by the ignorant as an amiable dunce, the guy is very smart and has been good in every movie he's been in.

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Alice Faye, American actress and singer, 1934-1935. Born Alice Jeane Leppert, Alice Faye (1915-1998) was a leading Hollywood star in the late 1930s and early 1940s until a dispute with her studio, 20th Century Fox, effectively ended her career. Taken from Meet the Film Stars, by Seton Margrave. (London, 1934-1935). (Photo by The Print Collector/Print Collector/Getty Images) less

Alice Faye, American actress and singer, 1934-1935. Born Alice Jeane Leppert, Alice Faye (1915-1998) was a leading Hollywood star in the late 1930s and early 1940s until a dispute with her studio, 20th Century ... more

Ronald Reagan -- underrated as an actor, because conservatives don't want to think of him as an actor and liberals won't give him credit for anything. The truth? He was good -- and he wasn't a star of B-movies, either. He was a medium-sized star of A movies. less

Ronald Reagan -- underrated as an actor, because conservatives don't want to think of him as an actor and liberals won't give him credit for anything. The truth? He was good -- and he wasn't a star of ... more

Tony Curtis -- he'd probably not be overrated if he didn't spend the last 20 years of his life whining about being underrated. Still, he was.

Tony Curtis -- he'd probably not be overrated if he didn't spend the last 20 years of his life whining about being underrated. Still, he was.

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Allen Toussaint -- suggested by bauhaus.

Allen Toussaint -- suggested by bauhaus.

Photo: Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images / Getty Images

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Karin Viard -- one of the greatest actresses in the world. Completely unknown in the United States.

Karin Viard -- one of the greatest actresses in the world. Completely unknown in the United States.

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Richard Widmark -- versatile character actor, playing good guys and psychos with equal aplomb.

Richard Widmark -- versatile character actor, playing good guys and psychos with equal aplomb.

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A portrait of actor Richard Barthelmess circa 1930. The Robert Redford of the early talkies, known today only for his silent films. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)

A portrait of actor Richard Barthelmess circa 1930. The Robert Redford of the early talkies, known today only for his silent films. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)

Photo: Archive Photos / Getty Images

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Gallery of the Underrated 2013

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We asked readers to tell us who they think is underrated. I added some of my own choices, and the result is the above gallery. Feel free to suggest more, either in the comments or by email to mlasalle@sfchronicle.com.

My feeling is that almost everybody is underrated, that nobody is paying attention to anybody else enough to notice how wonderful the people are around them; hence, everyone ends up under-appreciated and underrated. Even many famous people are underrated, very talented and yet taken for granted, or known for only one thing, but great at many. Hence, very few people are overrated, although there are probably a few.

In any case, here’s a chance to redress an imbalance. Let us know who is on your mind right now as an underrated personality or talent.